# Going to school but… **URL:** \ **Category:** Lounge\ **Created:** [August 8, 2026, 4:21am UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812 "2026-08-08T04:21:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PhotoGuy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/photoguy/32/14992_2.png) [@PhotoGuy](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/PhotoGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 4:21am UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812/1 "2026-08-08T04:21:20Z")
I’m in community college part time but want a PhD in physics. Going part time to balance work and school. I’m 34 now. By the time I finish I’ll be 50. Is this too old? I REALLY want a PhD because that’s where I learn the really exciting stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Catman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/catman/32/14_2.png) [@Catman](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/Catman)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 4:29am UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812/2 "2026-08-08T04:29:48Z")
> [@PhotoGuy](#): > > I’m 34 now. By the time I finish I’ll be 50. In 16 years you’ll be 50 whether you get your PhD or not. You’re never too old to follow your dreams. The best time to plant a tree was 15 years ago. The second best time to plant a tree is today. ---
**Author:** ![PhotoGuy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/photoguy/32/14992_2.png) [@PhotoGuy](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/PhotoGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 4:31am UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812/3 "2026-08-08T04:31:25Z")
I’m still going regardless. I’m just worried because I have been developing a theory on the big bang for years and want to see if I can finish it. I don’t want to be too old. But who knows maybe my idea is crap lol ---
**Author:** ![77nick77](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/77nick77/32/147_2.png) [@77nick77](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/77nick77)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 4:34am UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812/4 "2026-08-08T04:34:28Z")
I got my degree from a community college in 2023 when I was 62. ---
**Author:** ![PhotoGuy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/photoguy/32/14992_2.png) [@PhotoGuy](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/PhotoGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 4:35am UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812/5 "2026-08-08T04:35:20Z")
That makes me feel a lot better. Is it common for people to get a degree this late in life? ---
**Author:** ![77nick77](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/77nick77/32/147_2.png) [@77nick77](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/77nick77)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 4:39am UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812/6 "2026-08-08T04:39:02Z")
ChatGPT says it’s more common then you would think. ---
**Author:** ![Montezuma](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/montezuma/32/362_2.png) [@Montezuma](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/Montezuma)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 4:39am UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812/7 "2026-08-08T04:39:49Z")
People of all kinds of ages and backgrounds go to community college and universities. Why do you think it’s called “community” college? LOL ---
**Author:** ![PhotoGuy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/photoguy/32/14992_2.png) [@PhotoGuy](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/PhotoGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 4:41am UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812/8 "2026-08-08T04:41:09Z")
Good! I feel a bit more confident. ---
**Author:** ![PhotoGuy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/photoguy/32/14992_2.png) [@PhotoGuy](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/PhotoGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 4:41am UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812/9 "2026-08-08T04:41:28Z")
lol! You were always a cool and funny guy! ---
**Author:** ![Hemy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/hemy/32/15415_2.png) [@Hemy](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/Hemy)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 4:42am UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812/10 "2026-08-08T04:42:04Z")
> [@Catman](#): > > In 16 years you’ll be 50 whether you get your PhD or not. Pretty much this. In 16 years you can be 50 with a PhD or 50 without a PhD, the times gonna pass regardless. ---
**Author:** ![PhotoGuy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/photoguy/32/14992_2.png) [@PhotoGuy](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/PhotoGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 4:43am UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812/11 "2026-08-08T04:43:02Z")
It’ll pass for me fast. I always found physics amazing and fun! ---
**Author:** ![Dika](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/dika/32/9061_2.png) [@Dika](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/Dika)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 6:09am UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812/12 "2026-08-08T06:09:03Z")
@PhotoGuy that’s a great plan! It doesn’t matter how old you’ll be, as long as you enjoy what you’re doing. Go for it! ---
**Author:** ![walter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85e7bf/32.png) [@walter](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/walter)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 6:36am UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812/13 "2026-08-08T06:36:14Z")
That’s so amazing you could develop a big bang theory of yourself. There will be new theories in cosmology every decades. I hope you could develop your theory within the frame of the General Theory of relativity. best wishes. ---
**Author:** ![2Waynez](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/2waynez/32/176_2.png) [@2Waynez](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/2Waynez)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 7:08am UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812/14 "2026-08-08T07:08:54Z")
Never stop learning. That’s my motto ---
**Author:** ![firemonkey](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/firemonkey/32/1229_2.png) [@firemonkey](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/firemonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 7:27am UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812/15 "2026-08-08T07:27:12Z")
> [@PhotoGuy](#): > > By the time I finish I’ll be 50. Is this too old? 50? Might be for some, but not all. ---
**Author:** ![fly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@fly](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/fly)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 7:27am UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812/16 "2026-08-08T07:27:54Z")
Go for it @PhotoGuy ! Also, it is quite possible that along the way you can pick up the pace a bit more and might finish quicker. I found studying to be of such worth to my well being. ---
**Author:** ![Joker](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/joker/32/13470_2.png) [@Joker](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/Joker)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 8:58am UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812/17 "2026-08-08T08:58:19Z")
I was classed as a mature student The university seemed to take on a lot of older students The oldest I think was mid 50’s ---
**Author:** ![firemonkey](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/firemonkey/32/1229_2.png) [@firemonkey](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/firemonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 12:16pm UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812/18 "2026-08-08T12:16:22Z")
These are greater barriers than age: dysgraphia;(inc slow writing), slow typing, executive dysfunction ---
**Author:** ![Joker](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/joker/32/13470_2.png) [@Joker](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/Joker)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 1:00pm UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812/19 "2026-08-08T13:00:42Z")
I had really bad psychosis in the last year Forced myself to finish but once I did everything fell apart quickly Wanted to do more study but instead I was hospitalised ---
**Author:** ![PhotoGuy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex012/user_avatar/schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/photoguy/32/14992_2.png) [@PhotoGuy](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/u/PhotoGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 1:51pm UTC](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812/20 "2026-08-08T13:51:47Z")
I may be getting ahead of myself though. I don’t know enough math yet. [Next page](https://schizophreniasupport.discourse.group/t/going-to-school-but/7812.md?page=2)